run a movie studio has raise to be challenge for realness goggle box mogul turnedWarner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav . As 2023 comes to an end , he appear to the upcoming year to continue to answer for the selection being made .
Between leading the charge to pivot back to theatrical releases after a pandemic - era stretch of let go of moving-picture show at the same time on the ship’s company ’s streaming service , toa rebranding of that streaming service , monolithic layoffs , shelving a whole Batgirl film , navigating strikes that screeched the industry to a stop , and thentrying to can a film starring quality from WB ’s legendary mascot dealership , Looney Tunes — it ’s been a ride for the studio under Zaslav ’s leaders . And it ’s one that he seems aware that he needs to answer for . “ We ’re at a very knockout meter that requires strong decisions , and many of them are unpopular , ” hewas cite by Deadline as sayingin a Q&A during the New York Times ’ DealBook group discussion .
He continued , “ If we were run to start today , what substance do we involve ? What substance is going to aid us ? How many people do we need ? What should HBO look like ? What should Warner Brothers look like ? ” From where we ’re standing now , it ’s tempting to wonder if the iconic studio is being sold for parts , with project go off to other property like Prime Video — as seen in the case of DC ’s animated Merry Little Batman , for instance . And then there ’s the shelving of Coyote vs. Acme , the live - legal action / animation hybrid starring John Cena , a decision that was gratefully reconsidered ; the film is now being shop at around . Still , it ’s a moment odd that a feature starring beloved characters who ’ve long been synonymous with Warner Bros. might be let go of by another outlet during the studio apartment ’s 100 - year anniversary . Leaving us asking , truly : “ What ’s up , doc ? ”
Photo: Michael M. Santiago (Getty Images)
Zaslav chalks it up to having the “ bravery ” to make mistake , presumably : “ If we bring about a show , a $ 100 - million moving-picture show … We ’ve spent the $ 100 million one dollar bill and if we do n’t release it . It ’s gone . We do n’t have any real benefit from it . The doubtfulness is , should we take certain of these movies and open them in the theater and spend another $ 30 or $ 40 million to promote them ? And Warner Brothers squad and HBO made a numeral of determination . They were backbreaking . But when I look at the health of our company today , we needed to make those decisions . And it took existent courage . ”
Zaslav hopes to continue to change public opinion on the way he ’s plow thing at Warner Bros. But his positioning is severe to place , as he avoid a question about his high pay during a time when workings - class writers and actors were picket : “ My focus was we need to settle this strike . This is really anguish people . Every day that we were on strike , that hoi polloi were n’t working was a defective day . ” He also reiterated his point about being quote as pronounce organized workers were right . “ I did fight , and [ Disney ’s ] Bob Iger … When I spoke to [ SAG - AFTRA drawing card ] Fran [ Drescher ] and Duncan [ Crabtree - Ireland ] before , I said , ‘ I agree with a lot of what you ’re saying ’ . ”
Warner Bros. properties shifting and selling go on as the year draw to a close and the diligence gets back to work . Most recently the entireLooney Tunes catalogue was “ mistakenly ” published in a release as leave Max shortly , which created another uproar until it was rapidly corrected . The studio ’s mentality persist to be seen as the industry gets a young footing and start , but here ’s hoping its creatives can be originative while being compensated fairly for their art , and that its subroutine library of Hellenic moving-picture show , TV , and animation will command the obedience they deserve .
need more io9 newsworthiness ? curb out when to expect the latestMarvel , Star Wars , andStar Trekreleases , what ’s next for theDC Universe on film and TV , and everything you require to know about the succeeding ofDoctor Who .
Bob IgerDavid ZaslavdisneyJohn CenaLooney TunesWarner Bros.
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